Blurry eyes?

[MelissaRebekah]

Hello again!

Hoping for some insight (do you like the pun?)

My SS affects my eyes most severely, and is my most irritating symptom. I've had symptoms for about 6 months now, and recently had plugs put in my tear ducts. I am on 400mg Plaquenil for inflammatory arthritis as well. I have another appointment with my ophthalmologist next week because it appears that I am losing vision. I'm 30 and have always been severely near-sighted, but my Rx has stayed consistent for about 10 years. In the last few months my Rx has changed again to the point where it is difficult to drive or read. My ophthalmologist says that plaquenil toxicity can cause this, but I've only been on it 2 months and he would find that to be extremely unlikely.

Has anyone had these issues? My doctor next week is going to do extensive cornea and retina tests to see exactly what is going on. Fortunately I am home with my kids, but my vision is so affected right now that if I did work, I don't know how I could do my job. Just sitting and typing this is difficult because I can hardly see. I definitely empathize with those who are required to work when they are still trying to manage their disease.

Please, anyone with information?
Melissa

[A66eyroad]

Blurry vision (and dizziness and nausea) can be a side-effect of Plaquenil.

[quietdynamics]

Hello MelissaRebekah,

Since you have on been taking Plaquinel for 2 months you could
Contact the prescribing Dr about your eye issue and do a trial of stopping the drug.
See if this is the cause?

I have been referred to a Cornea Specialist.
Dry eyes can cause abrasions and other problems on the cornea.
As you have had symptoms for 6 months, this may likely be the cause.
Using drops, I like the soothing effect of Systane, with the plugs may help while waiting to get into the specialist?

Here is some info.  http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/wilmer/conditions/dry_eye.html

[Calli66]

Since you have high myopia, your best bet is to see a retina specialist, who should be able to narrow it down---is it a retina problem, a corneal surface problem, a cloudy lens, or something else. Pretty important to find out sooner than later.

I also have high myopia, and experienced some vision loss with the onset of dry eyes/Sjoigren's. First, I had vitreous detachments in both eyes (just a bit of bleeding in one eye, no other complications). Due to my high myopia, my retina is stretched out and has what the doc calls "a crack pattern." (like dried mud). This may or may not lead to macular vision loss. But it does make it harder to see. I don't get better than 20/25 with glasses--usually worse. And night driving is OUT--just can't do it.

Dry eyes make the cornea so much drier that light can't pass as easily---probably contributes to a whole diopter (-1.00) more myopia in my case.

Check all your medications and see if there are vision side effects. Some meds make the pupil "lazy" or affect focusing of the internal lens.

Please see a doc soon.

Calli

[gphx]

You might also have your blood glucose level checked. Suddenly fluctuating vision is a classic warning sign of diabetes onset. Barring other complications, vision typically returns to the previous normal once glucose level control is improved.

[MelissaRebekah]

Thanks for all the input.

I did go back to the eye doctor, but not much happened. I had several tests, but apparently they all looked okay. He put plugs in my upper lids, so now I have plugs in both upper and lower.

The trouble is that my eyes are SO inflamed and irritated. People literally tell me that my eyes look terrible. My vision is so bad that I am wondering if I can even drive safely. It's all so blurred.

I don't think that I'm diabetic. Highly unlikely.

I have inflammatory arthritis and just saw my orthopedist recently, too, to get a joint aspiration and cortisone injection, and he immediately referred me to a renowned eye clinic. I'm just super discouraged. I'm not sure if my eyes look structurally ok that they're going to be able to do anything else for me.

Does MTX help with dryness symptoms or SS eye symptoms? Does Prednisone? Prednisone is the last line of defense for me, as my joints are already very poor and because I'm quite young (30).

[Calli66]

Plugs. My experience with them was negative. All the products of tear and lid inflammation (cytokines--(?) not sure what they call it) plus trapped mucus and borderline chronic infection/meibomian glands--- caused MORE inflammation. I tried to deal with it over 3-4 months, on advice from doctor, who said, "Oh, your eyes are much wetter.." but they FELT awful.

I had plugs removed, and things improved. Plugs don't work for some people. I have dryness (Schirmer is 2), but have my coping methods and drops.

Hope you can find some relief soon.

Calli